Container for liquids



29, 1936. R. J. ANs'cHlcKs 2,065,185

CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS Fild March 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 frauenga 7" rDec. 29, 1936. R. J. ANSCHICKS 2,065,785

' CONTAINER, FOR LIQUIDS Filed March 24, 1936 2 sheets-sheet 2 I 13 Z5/7 ff 1/1/1111, 22

fi ua ogp/z JCZrwt/zz'ca Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS Application March 24, 1936, Serial No.70,594

2 Claims.

My invention relates to closures for cans and similar receptacles andmore particularly it relates to closure devices for the discharge spoutsof portable cans of the general type used as containers for kerosene orsimilar volatile liquids.

The closure device embodying the invention is particularly adapted foruse with cans having a closed top and of sizes up to the maximum whichcan be conveniently carried when filled to capacity. Such cans areusually provided with a discharge spout mounted on the cover with theopen end of the spout so positioned and inclined that the contents ofthe can may be discharged through the spout into the filler opening ofanother vessel upon tilting the can from its normal vertical position.The diameter of the spout is preferably such that the contents of thecan may be'discharged into the filler opening of other containerswithout the use of a funnel and, in order that the liquid may flowthrough the spout freely without waste due to splashing or gurgling, avent opening is provided in the upper end of the can. Inasmuch askerosene and similar liquids are volatile, it is desirable that both thespout and the vent opening be kept closed to avoid waste and prevent theemanation of vapors having unpleasant odors which are particularlyobjectionable if the can is stored adjacent to the food supply or in theliving quarters of an establishment. Closure devices for sealing thedischarge spouts and vent openings of cans are well known but if the canand its sealed contents are subjected to a substantial increase intemperature, as, for example, where the can is brought into and kept ina warm room, the pressure of the confined vapors may cause the can toyield at the seams and permit leakage.

The invention has among its objects the provision of an improved closuredevice normally sealing both the discharge spout and the vent openingand adapted to be manipulated with one hand to open both the spout andthe vent opening, the device being also adapted to open automaticallywhen the pressure of the confined vapors reaches a predeterminedmaximum.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved closuredevice of the kind described which efiectively seals the can againstescape of liquid or vapors in the event the can is accidentallyoverturned.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown anddescribed will be obvious to those skilled in the art from thedisclosure herein given.

To this end by invention consists in the novel construction, arrangementand combination of parts herein shown and described and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a can equipped with a discharge spoutand a closure device therefor embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of the top of the can shown in Fig. 1,including a longitudinal sectional view through the discharge spout andthe closure device, the latter being shown in its normal spout sealingposition and the can in its normal untilted vertical position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the can in tilted positionand the closure device open to permit the discharge of the liquidcontents of the can through the spout; and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views along the lines I-4, 55 and 6-6,respectively, of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I6generally designates a can having a closed top or cover II and adischarge spout I2 mounted on the cover with its discharge end adjacentone edge thereof. The other end of the spout I2 comprises a valve casingI3 having a fluid tight connection with the cover I I and providing aconduit I4 opening into the can, the axial line of the spout and conduitbeing preferably coincident and positioned in a vertical plane ubisecting the can. A handle I5, centrally positioned'on top of the canI0 provides means for supporting the can in vertical position and alsoin tilted position necessary to permit liquid to flow out of the canthrough the spout I2. The handle I5 is fastened to the cover I I by apin I6 so arranged that the handle may pivot about an axis perpendicularto the vertical plane bisecting the spout I2.

A valve consisting of a piston II, reciprocably movable in a bore I8,normally closes the conduit I4 to the passage of liquid through thecasing I3, the outer end of the bore being closed by a cap I9 threadedonto the casing. A compression spring 23, positioned in the bore I8,with its ends respectively abutting the piston IIand the cap I9,normally holds the piston in the closed position as shown in Fig. 2. Apiston rod 20 extending through the spring 23 and projecting through thecap I9, is operatively connected with the handle I5 by a flexible memberor chain 22. The conduit I4 is connected with the spout I2 by a port 24opening into an annular chamber 25. In order to insure that no vapors orfluids can escape through the port 24 when the valve is closed, acushion plate 26, mounted on the inner end of the piston II, is adaptedto be seated on an annular boss 21 which encircles the port. Thepressure exerted on the plate 26 by the spring 23 effectively seals theport 24 against the flow of vapor or liquid out of the conduit I4 whenthe piston I! is in its closed position.

The piston II is actuated from closed. to open position by moving thehandle [5 to the position shown in Fig. 3, this position being alsoshown in Fig. 1 wherein the dotted line 21 indicates the center line ofthe handle when so inclined. The slack in the chain 22 permits initialmovement of the handle 15 to the position indicated by the dotted line28 of Fig. l. Without opening the valve. This initial movement of thehandle l5 enables the can it to be manipulated as hereinafter describedwith the valve closed followed by final movement of the handle from theposition indicated by the line 28 to that indicated by the line 27 toopen the valve.

Since the position of the spout l2 requires that the can be tilted inorder that the liquid may flow out of the spout when the valve is open,the can is preferably manipulated by supporting it with both hands, onein engagement with the handle i5 and the other in engagement with thebottom of the can opposite to the spout. The slack in the chain 22 notonly enables the operator to tilt the can a substantial amount withoutopening the valve but is so limited that the operator may, when the canis vertical or tilted in any amount, draw the chain taut and open thevalve with the handle-grasping hand by moving the handle so that it isinclined to the can substantially in the amount indicated by the dottedline 21. A sleeve 3 connected with the cap 19 provides a stop preventingoutward movement of the piston i'a beyond the position shown in Fig. 3and correspondingly limits the movement of the handle.

The casing it provides a venting conduit 29 having one end opening intothe bore 18 and its other end connected with a tubular member 30extending transversely of the can in closely spaced relation to the topH. The casing 13 also provides an aperture 3|, in register with theconduit 29, and connecting the bore I8 with the atmosphere. Anannular'recess 32 in the piston ii is so positioned as to connect theconduit 2% with the aperture 3i when the piston is in the open positionshown in Fig. 3, and thereby provides a vent inlet for air to replacethe liquid discharged through the spout I2. The entrance end of thetubular member 3!! is so positioned that the liquid contents of the cancannot enter the conduit either when the can is vertical or tilted inany amount in the direction tending to discharge the contents throughthe spout. If the can should be accidentally overturned, the piston I lprevents either liquid or vapors from escaping through the spout [2 orthe vent outlet 29.

While it is desirable under normal conditions that the can be closed toprevent escape of vapors either through the conduit 29 or the aperture3!, there may be conditions of temperature which makes it unsafe to havethe can hermetically sealed because of the resulting vapor pressure. Inorder that the pressure of the confined vapors may not unduly strain thecan and disrupt the same, the resistance of the spring 23 is so adjustedthat it will yield and permit the piston I! to be automatically openedby the pressure thereon of the vapors in the conduit [4 before suchpressure reaches the danger point.

Thus it will be seen that I have supplied an improved closure device forspouts and venting conduits for cans of the kind described whichnormally seals the can against discharge of liquids or vapors when thecan is in either vertical, tilted or overturned position and which willautomatically'open to permit escape of confined vapors when theresulting pressure reaches a predetermined amount and thereby preventundue strains and possible disruption of the can. Having thus describedmy invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may bemade in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention;hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exactform, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shownand described or uses mentioned. 1

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is:

1. In a can of the kind described, a valve casing mounted on the top ofthe can and providing a chamber opening into the can, a discharge spoutconnected with said chamber, said casing providing a vent conduitopening into the can, a piston plunger normally closing said chamber andvent conduit to the passage of fluid, resilient means yieldingly holdingthe plunger in closed position, a handle pivotally mounted on the top ofthe can, and means operatively connecting the handle with the plungerwhereby the plunger remains closed when the handle is initially rotateda substantial amount from the position it normally occupies when the canis suspended therefrom and is moved by further rotation of the handle toopen both the spout and Vent conduit.

2. In a can of the kind described, a casing mounted on the top of thecan, and providing a valve chamber and a vent opening connected with theinterior of the can, a discharge spout connected with said chamber, apiston plunger normally sealing said chamber and vent conduit to thepassage of fluid, resilient means yieldingly holding the plunger inclosed position, a handle pivotally mounted on the top of the can, and achain operatively connecting the handle with the plunger, said chainhanging slack when the handle is in vertical alignment with the axis ofthe can whereby the piston remains closed during initial rotation of thehandle from said aligned position by a predetermined amount and furthermovement of the ndle actuates the plunger to a position wherein both thevent conduit and the spout are open to the passage of fluids.

RUDOLPH J. ANSCHICKS.

